Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZLLmxzpLFP/

You’re getting those weight loss shots. You’re delighted as you lose weight for months. Then those scale numbers suddenly stops moving in the right direction. Why?

NIH endocrinologists now show that the answer appears to be hiding inside your brain cells. They find that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, triggers variable responses in appetite-controlling brain cells. That seems to be why some people lose more weight than others and why weight loss often plateaus over time.

Their studies of brain tissue in mice show that semaglutide boosts a signaling molecule called cAMP inside neurons that helps regulate your appetite. But not all brain cells respond the same way. Some maintain the signal for longer periods, while others appeared to shut down their responses more quickly. When they do, the appetite-suppressing effects weaken and contribute to the weight-loss plateau that many patients experience.

This finding suggests a possible way to prolong the drug’s effects. By blocking an enzyme called PDE4 with a medication known as roflumilast, the investigators were able to extend the cAMP signal in more neurons.

While this finding was observed only in mice and has not been confirmed in people, it raises the possibility that future treatments could help you continue losing weight and maintain that ideal weight for longer periods of time.

The references for this report are available on my website.

#Ozempic #Wegovy #WeightLossResearch #GLP1 #HealthyAging